The Alfredton man accused of killing a South Australian woman almost three decades ago will remain behind bars after being refused bail for a third time. According to The Advertiser, Matthew Donald Tilley argued he was at risk of catching coronavirus (COVID-19) because he shared a cell with three other inmates and a phone at Yatala Labour Prison. Prosecutor Carmen Matteo, according to The Advertiser, rejected the 46-year-old's argument at Adelaide Magistrates' Court on Friday, saying no one had tested positive at the north-Adelaide prison and that prison authorities were disinfecting facilities, isolating new inmates and conducting regular health screenings. She told the court due to those measures - and the alleged crime itself - that bail was completely inappropriate. "This was an armed robbery of a soft target, the killing of a vulnerable and defenceless woman in the most brutal manner," The Advertiser quoted Ms Matteo saying in court. "There were 40 stab wounds, some 10 of which were defensive ... certain penetrating wounds punctured so far as to extend out the front of the victim's chest. READ MORE: BAIL REFUSED A FIRST TIME FOR TILLEY READ MORE: BAIL DENIED BAIL A SECOND TIME FOR ALLEGED MURDER "These allegations stand in a very different category for their brutality ... the gravity of this crime really speaks for itself." In 1993, mother-of-two Suzanne Poll was stabbed to death while working at the Salisbury Sands &amp; McDougall store during what police believe might have been a robbery- gone-wrong. The lights were off and the shop was shut, but the front door remained ajar while the 36-year-old counted the day's takings. A man entered and attacked Mrs Poll, who tried to escape through a back room but was stabbed to death in what police said was a vicious and sustained attack. Tilley, who has not yet made a plea, was arrested in Ballarat in September after a DNA breakthrough linked him to the killing and flown to South Australia. Magistrate Greg Fisher remanded Tilley in custody until May. -With AAP Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.

Coronavirus in Australia: Matthew Tilley refused bail for third time amid COVID-19 crisis

The Alfredton man accused of killing a South Australian woman almost three decades ago will remain behind bars after being refused bail for a third time.

According to The Advertiser, Matthew Donald Tilley argued he was at risk of catching coronavirus (COVID-19) because he shared a cell with three other inmates and a phone at Yatala Labour Prison.

Prosecutor Carmen Matteo, according to The Advertiser, rejected the 46-year-old's argument at Adelaide Magistrates' Court on Friday, saying no one had tested positive at the north-Adelaide prison and that prison authorities were disinfecting facilities, isolating new inmates and conducting regular health screenings.

She told the court due to those measures - and the alleged crime itself - that bail was completely inappropriate.

Suzanne Poll

"This was an armed robbery of a soft target, the killing of a vulnerable and defenceless woman in the most brutal manner," The Advertiser quoted Ms Matteo saying in court.

"There were 40 stab wounds, some 10 of which were defensive ... certain penetrating wounds punctured so far as to extend out the front of the victim's chest.